Poynter Summit for Reporters and Editors in Multi-Platform Newsrooms

April 28, 2019 @ 8:00 am - May 3, 2019 @ 5:00 pm UTC-4

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The Poynter Summit for Reporters and Editors in Multi-Platform Newsrooms takes place April 28 - May 3, 2019, at Poynter’s campus in St. Petersburg, Florida. It’s an intensive week of training and personalized coaching to boost the skills of reporters and editors who seek greater impact and relevance in digital and multi-platform newsrooms.

In a 24/7 news cycle, how do you build the skills to report, write and edit stories that connect with your audience? Our lineup of award-winning journalists and expert teachers will show you how digital approaches and narrative writing techniques can transform your work—whether it’s a daily story or a major project. Here’s what participants from 2018 program wrote in our follow-up survey:

“After 20 years in [the industry], I think we can get stuck in the daily grind and forget some of these key concepts. For me, this was a reset that will help our newsroom to produce better stories.”
— Susan Montoya Bryan, Supervisory Correspondent, Associated Press

“I've learned more in this past week than I have in university.”
— Negar Mojtahedi, News Producer/Online, Radio, TV Reporter, Global BC News

“I walked away with tangible ideas to influence and reshape how we think about storytelling as my newsroom prepares to launch a new digital-first project. And I picked up a number of great ideas and tips that I believe will make me a better editor and coach.”
— Desiree Hicks, Supervising Senior Editor, NPR

Program details

Two tracks will help you dive more deeply into beat/enterprise reporting and editing. And we’ll come together in large group sessions to explore the common threads that will help you tell more powerful stories, no matter what role you play in your organization. In the process, you’ll explore the tools and techniques that will help you thrive in the digital age.

At the end of this high-impact week, you’ll leave Poynter with a personal action plan to put what you’ve learned into practice. You’ll also feel revitalized and prepared to tackle challenges in the newsroom.

“[Poynter] really is like a spa; it's a spa for the muscle you usually work out hard every minute of the day.”
— Ben Brasch, Hyperlocal Reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As a reporter, you’ll learn to:

Turn your watchdog reporting and other investigative projects into compelling “reads” that hold your audience from lead to kicker

Improve your interviewing skills to ask better questions — and get the answers you need

Develop the heightened senses necessary for gathering the details, nuance and dialogue that distinguish the best narrative reporting and writing

Identify fresh, creative stories from civic or institutional beats

Map non-traditional beats that reflect how people live today

As an editor, you’ll learn to:

Help your team generate fresh and compelling ideas

Edit for emphasis and clarity

Deliver effective feedback and coaching

Explore new ways of telling stories in the digital space

Manage big stories and projects

We will also show you:

How to tell powerful stories that connect with viewers, particularly on video

How to use social media for reporting

How to manage a large multiplatform story or project

How to make good ethical decisions in the digital age

How to use free, easy-to-implement digital tools that you can start applying right away (and how to make them stick in your newsroom)

Who will benefit

Reporters and editors, as well as bloggers, citizen journalists, copywriters, creatives, educators and freelance/independent journalists.

Colleagues will also benefit from attending together. You’ll create a shared understanding of your challenges, brainstorm solutions and improve collaboration. Reporters, bring your editors! Editors, come with your reporters! If you apply with a colleague, you’ll each receive a $100 discount.

“I did not expect that I would walk away with better clarity about how the long list of responsibilities in my current job is impacting my ability to do the type of work that is meaningful for me. I don't think I could have gotten that clarity any other way. It was a combination of hearing other people talk about their work, the incredible presenters and the time to reflect on the craft of journalism.”
— Sarah Gustavus, Senior Multimedia Producer, New Mexico PBS

Application process

The process to apply is straightforward and simple. No letter of recommendation or reference is required. Please be prepared to answer questions about your professional experience, areas of interests and basic demographic information.

Cost

Early bird pricing available! If you apply and pay by Dec. 1, 2018, your tuition will be just $1,185.

If you apply after Dec. 1, tuition is $1,395.

Travel and hotel costs are not included. Poynter negotiates deeply discounted hotel rates for training participants within close proximity to the Institute.

Bring a colleague from your organization and you can each save $100 on tuition. Two people can attend this high-impact week of training for $2,590. Email us at seminars@poynter.org to get the promo code.